Closure operator for home appliance



y 1961 D. F. EPPLEY ET AL 2,982,540

CLOSURE OPERATOR FOR HOME APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I JNVENTORS DONALD F. EPPLEY VERNON A. BUTLER ATTORNE Y May 2, 1961 D. F. EPPLEY EI'AL CLOSURE OPERATOR FOR HOME APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 4, 1959 INVENTORS DONALD F. EPPLEY By VERNON A. BUTLER ATTORNEYS CLOSURE OPERATOR FOR HOME APPLIANCE Donald F. Eppley, Bucyrus, and Vernon A. Butler, Marion, Ohio, assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, St. Joseph, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 838,082

13 Claims. (Cl. 268-72) This invention relates to a closure operatorand more particularly to a double acting means for selectively opening a closure either by pulling or pushing forces.

Although the closure operator of the invention has application in a wide variety of situations, it is particularly suitable for use with the closure of a domestic appliance such as a washing or drying machine when the closure is pivotally mounted at the front of the machine. Such closures are customarily operated by manually applied pulling forces, so that if, for example, the housewife is carrying a load of clothes, it is necessary for her to set them down, pull the door open and then lift the load again.

, The present invention eliminates such extra efiort by means of a double acting closure operator which can be used to pull the door open manually if desired, but which also is adapted to be pressed, for example, by the knee, so that the door will open in response to a pushing force converted by a levering action intoa greater closure opening force.

It is an object of the present invention 'to' provide a method of operating a closure by both pushing and pulling forces.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure operator Which overcomes the shortcom ings of closure operators heretofore provided.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a closure operator which is effective to open a closure when either a tension force or compression force is exerted on a handle thereof, selectively.

Another object is to provide hinged door fastening means which coacts with a lever con-trolled plunger so gageable with gasket 32 for this purpose.

that the door is automatically swung open when an inwardly directed force is'exerted onthe hand-1e.

A further object of the invention is to provide a double acting closure handle having restoring means to position the handle in a return position after use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent as the description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which: V

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a closure whichmay be used with the closure operator of this invention, in open relation to a domestic applicance such as a washer or drier;

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to the-view in Figure 1 and showing the closure in closed position with the handle portion of the closure operator exposed to 'view;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines IIIIII of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, perspective, exploded View, partly broken away, of the closure operator of the invention, and a closure assembly and wall;

, Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational showing of a Referring now to the drawings, the closure operator of the invention is adapted to be used in conjunction with a variety of closures and applications but is shown as used in a domestic appliance such as home laundry equipment which may be a washer, dryer, or the like. Thus the laundry equipment is housed within a cabinet 10 having a front wall 12 provided with a recessed wall portion 14 having a preferably circular opening '16 therein, A door or closure 18, which may be of conventional construction, is mounted flush with front wall 12 adjacent recessed wall 14 and is pivotally secured to wall 12 by hinge means 20 and 22 extending through the rearwardly directed wall 24 which interconnects walls 12 and 14. If desired, it will be understood that the closure 18 may be provided with spring elements (not shown) or means constituting a continuous biasing means to .pre 'load the closure 18 towards an open position as shown in Fig ure 1. The closure 18 is dimensioned to fitwithin the recessed portion defined by the wall 24 so that the inner wall 26 is in proximate parallel adjacency to the recessed wall portion 14 and the outer wall 28 is adapted to be'dis-, posed substantially in parallel coplanar relation with the wall 12 in the closed position as seen in Figure 2; The wall 26 may be provided with a slightly dished circular panel 30 having an annular gasket 32 peripherally secured thereby by suitable adhesive means. Thus when the closure 18 is in the position shown in Figure 2 a sealed engagement between the closure and the wall 12 is afiorded, the recessed portion 14 having an annular flange 34 en- The walls 26 and 28 define annular flanges '36 and 38 which are retained in telescopic assembly asshown in Figure 3 by suitable fastening means. Insulating material may be disposed within the wall structure if desired and a pair of vertically spaced resilient stop elements 44 and 46 are carried on the wall 26 adjacent the free ed'g'e" of the closure to provide a resiliently cushionedeng age ment of the closure in the recessed portion 14.

In accordance with the invention, a double action e10- sure operator is provided which is elfective to open the closure 18 in response to either a tension force thereon such as may be applied manually to pull the closure open or in response to a compression force thereon such as may be applied by the pressure of a knee or otherwise, selectively. This closure operator includes means for manually opening the closure by either pulling or pushing on a portion of the closure handle 48 ,which is shown as being of rectangular construction and' which may be made of aluminum, stainless steel, or other suitable material.

Means for pivotally securing'the handle 48 to'the clo'-; sure 18 include a pair of parallel, spaced pivot lugs 50 and 52 formed perpendicular to the inner surface vof the handle 48 and adjacent the outer edge 54 thereof. The lugs 50 and 52 define apertures 56 and 58and are secured to a support bracket 60 which is fastened by suitable means (not shown) to the inner surface of'the closure front wall 28, and having ears 62 and 64 defining apertures 66 and 68, so that a hinge pin 70 may be re-': ceived therein and in the apertures 56 and 58, and retained by a suitable retainer spring 69. The lugs 50 and 52 thus pass through vertically spaced openings indie 14, the handle 48 and the closure '18 are provided sc'fas to open the closure in response to an inwardly directed force exerted on the end of'handle 48, including a plunger or fulcrum pin 78 slidably received in plunger openings 80 and 82 in the walls 26 and 28 of the closure. The openings 80 and 82 are in laterally spaced relation to the openings 72 such asto dispose the plunger 78 in appropriate levering relation to the pivot pin 70. Desirably, the plunger 78 is formed of nylon, although other materials of a self-lubricating yet tough characteristic may be utilized within the scope of the invention, as well as metals or the like. The outer end of plunger 78 is provided with bearing means 84 for coaction with the under surface of the handle 48, and the inner end of the plunger is provided with a reduced bearing fiat or surface 86 for engagement with the wall portion 14. Desirably, the head 84 is of segmentally spherical configuration and may be somewhat wider than the adjacent body portion 88 of the plunger.

Restoring means for returning the handle to an initial position wherein the lugs 50 and'52 abut the stop means 74 and 76 are provided which include an annular shoulder 90 joining the body portion '88 of the plunger 78 and a reduced end portion 92 thereof intermediate bearing means 84 and 86, and a helical spring 94 surrounding the reduced portion 92 and bearing at its upper end against the shoulder 90 and at its lower end against the inner surface of the wall 26. The plunger 78 is dimensioned so that the spring 94 will normally dispose the bearing head 84 in abutting engagement with the inner bearing surface of the handle 48 and urge the handle to its maximum outward position as limited by stops 74 and 76, whether in the closed disposition of the closure 18 shown in Figure 2 or the open position shown in Figure 1. Thus, the handle 48 will be maintained in readiness for exerting force against the stops 74 and 76 when it is desired to open the closure 18 by pulling on handle 48 or to open the closure by pushing on handle 48 in any convenient manner which will pivot the handle around the plunger 78 in a levering action. So as to facilitate grasping of handle 48, a recess 96 is formed in the outer wall 28 of the closure beneath the free edge 98 of handle 48.

In order to retain the closure 18 in a closed position, latch means 100 are provided which include upper and lower spring elements 102 and 104, and a bayonet stud 106 secured in a recessed portion 107 of the wall 26 by the cooperation of its threaded end 108 and a nut 110. The bayonet stud 106 has a head 112 having a forward tapering portion 114 which constitutes a cam to permit introduction of the bayonet stud 106 between the spring elements 102 and 104 of the latch 100, and a rearward portion 116 constituting a cam for releasing the bayonet stud from these spring elements. As seen in Figure 3, the spring elements 102 and 104 and the stud 106 are formed in complementary relationship such as to maintain the stud against accidental release.

Closure 18 may be opened by either pushing or pulling on the end 98 of handle 48. Pulling on the end 98 of handle 48 as shown by arrow A in Figures 3 and 6 causes lugs 50 and 52 to maintain their firm abutting engagement with shoulders 74 and 76, respectively, of bracket 60 and thereby transmits an outwardly directed or opening force to closure 18 through pivot pin 70 so as to separate stud 106 from the latch members 102 and 104 (by means of the stud cam surface 116) to effect an opening of closure 18.

Closure 18 may also be opened by a pushing action on handle 48 in the direction of arrow B in Figures 3 and 6 by means of the force reversal lever mechanism provided by the cooperation of handle 48, plunger or fulcrum pin 78 and recessed wall 14, Pushing on the end 98 of handle 48 beyond fulcrum pin 78 in the direction of arrow B causes handle 48 to force the end 86 of plunger 78 against the recessed wall portion 14 so that the rounded bearing end 84 of the plunger 78 serves as a fulcrum for the limited pivotal movement of handle 48 during the inward movement of end 98. The inwardly directed pushing force of end 98 causes handle 48 to exert a force of opposite direction on pivot pin 70 of a magnitude which is dependent upon the magnitude of the inwardly directed force and the ratio of the distance between fulcrum pin 78 and the point of application of the inwardly directed pushing force exerted on end 98 and the distance between pivot pin 70 and fulcrum pin 78. This oppositely directed force acting on pin 70 tends to move closure 18 away from the recessed wall portion 14 and thereby separates bayonet stud 106 from the latch members 102 and 104. Closure 18 automatically swings to its open position under the bias of the springs (not shown) acting on the hinge elements 20 and 22 when this initial separation of closure 18 from wall member 14 takes place.

Subsequent to the release of the latch means 100, and upon opening of the closure 18, the user will have ceased to exert inward or outward force on the handle 48, as the case may be, so that the spring 94 will return to its initial extended condition and act against the shoulder to move the plunger 78 outwardly relative to the closure 18 thereby forcing the handle 48 outwardly around the pin 70 until the lugs 50 and 52 again engage the stops 74 and 76. This engagement of the lugs with these stop means will, of course, also be effected when the closure 18 is in the position of Figure 2 in which the closure is seated within the recessed portion of the wall12.

There has thus been provided a closure operator which is of simple and economical construction, and which is highly reliable in use and remarkably free from breakdown and wear. The device may be used to open a closure in the ordinary manner by pulling action on the handle, but is also capable of opening the closure when the users hands are occupied, in response to pressure force directed against the handle. Thus, the invention has utility in numerous applications in addition to laundry equipment.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respect to certain specific principles and details thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination with a closure pivotally mounted on a wall, a closure operator comprising a lever, means pivotally connecting said lever to said closure, a movable fulcrum carried by said closure in operative relation to said lever, and intermediate the pivotal connection of said lever and an end of said lever, said lever having a pushing surface on a side facing away from said closure and between said fulcrum and said end, and a reaction surface formed by said wall for supporting said fulcrum when said lever is pushed thereagainst by means of said pushing surface whereby force is transmitted to said connecting means by lever action around said fulcrum to pivot said closure outwardly from said reaction surface and said wall.

2. A closure operator for hinged together first and second separable parts comprising handle means attached to one of said parts and constituting a lever system including a handle pivotally connected at one end to said one part in spaced relation to the hinging axis of said first and second parts, said handle having portions at its opposite end against which pulling and pushing forces may be directed, and a fulcrum pin movably carried by said one part for engaging the other of said parts and a portion of said handle intermediate its ends, said handle portion being between said fulcrum and the extremity of said opposite end, whereby pushing forces applied to said handle at said handle portions are transmitted to said fulcrum pin, thereby tending to separate said parts and pullingvfcrces applied to said handle are transmitted directly to said one part tending to separate said parts.

3; Latch release means for separable first and second latched-together hinged members, comprising, a

lever armpivotally connected to the first of said members said first and second members, and pushing force applied to said lever arm at said actuating portion thereof will move said force-transmitting member by a lever action against said first member so that said pushing force will also be elfective to separate said first and second members, said force transmitting member being disposed on a side of said actuating portion adjacent the pivotal connection of said lever arm and spaced therefrom.

4. In combination with a closure pivotally connected to a wall, a closure operator comprising lever means responsive to either pulling or pushing forces to transmit an opening force to said closure, connection means pivotally connecting said lever means to said closure including stop means for transmitting a pulling force to said closure and for defining a limiting position for said lever means, and means on said closure urging said lever means to said limiting position defined by said stop means and responsive to pushing forces on said lever means to bear against said wall whereby said lever means transmits an opening force to said closure through said connection means.

5. In combination with a closure pivotally mounted on a wall, a closure operator comprising a lever, means pivotally connecting said lever to said closure and transmitting opening force to said closure in response to a pulling force on said lever and fulcrum means on said closure for bearing against said wall and said lever in response to a pushing force on said lever to move said closure outwardly from said wall, said lever having a handle portion extending outwardly on a side of said fulcrum opposite the pivotal connection of said lever to said closure to receive pushing force thereon.

6. In combination with a closure pivotally mounted on a wall, a closure operator comprising a lever, means pivotally connecting said lever to said closure and transmitting an opening force to said closure in response to a pushing force on said lever, and pin means on said closure for hearing against said wall and said lever 1n response to a pushing force on said lever to move said closure outwardly from said wall, said pin means including spring means urging said lever outwardly from said closure, said lever having a handle portion extending outwardly from said pin means on the side of said lever opposite the pivotal connection thereof with said closure to receive said pushing force thereon.

7. In combination with a closure pivotally mounted on a wall, a closure operator comprising a lever, means pivotally connecting said lever to said closure and transmitting an opening force to the closure in response to a pulling force on the lever, and pin means on said closure for bearing against said wall and said lever in response to a pushing force on said lever to move said closure outwardly from said Wall, said pin means including spring means urging said lever outwardly, said lever having a handle portion extending outwardly from said pin means on the side of said lever opposite the pivotal connection thereof with said closure to receive said pushing force thereon, and said connecting means including stop means to limit outward movement of the lever to transmit a,

pulling force tosaid closure for opening saidclosure,

8.3In combination-with a closure pivotally mounted on a wall, a closure operator comprising a lever, means pivotally connecting said-lever to said closure and transmitting an opening force to'said closure in responseto an outwardly directed force on said lever, pin means on said. closure for hearing against said wall and said lever in response to an inwardly'directed force on said lever to move saidclosure outwardly from said wall, said lever having a handle portion extending outwardly from said pin means andaway from the pivotal connection for said lever to receive said inwardly directed -force, and latch means normally positioning said closure in a closed positionadjacent said .wall. 1 l A 9..In combination with a closure pivotally: mounted on a wall, a closure operator comprising a lever, means pivotally connecting said lever to said closure and transmitting an opening force to said closure in response to an outwardly directed force on said lever, pin means on said closure for bearing against said wall and said lever in response to an inwardly directed force on said lever to move said closure outwardly from said wall, said lever having a handle portion extending outwardly from said pin means and away from the pivotal connection for said lever to receive said inwardly directed force, and latch means normally positioning said closure in a closed position adjacent said wall and including cam means elfective to release said closure from said latch means in response to inwardly directed force on said lever.

10. In combination with a closure having spaced front and rear walls and pivotally secured to a wall, a closure operator comprising a handle pivotally secured at one edge thereof to said front wall, a fulcrum plunger slidably received in said closure and actuated by pivotal movement of said handle, said front and rear walls having openings for said plunger disposed in predetermined v V spaced relation to the pivotal connection for said handle and to the free edge of the handle opposite said one edge, an annular shoulder on said plunger intermediate the ends thereof, and a coil spring surrounding said plunger and bearing against the rear wall of said closure and against said annular shoulder to urge said plunger against said handle, said wall providing a surface to support said plunger when said handle is pushed inwardly against said plunger, said handle having a bearing portion on the side of said fulcrum plunger opposite said one edge of said handle. 7

11. A closure construction comprising a closure pivotally secured to a wall, a handle having a plate-like'configuration, means pivotally connecting one edge of said.

handle to the closure, said handle having a portion offset outwardly relative to the closure and spaced from said one edge, a fulcrum plunger slidably mounted through said closure in spaced relation to said one edge,

and means urging said plunger against said outwardly offset portion of said handle, said wall having a surface for supporting said plunger when said handle is pivoted i inwardly thereagainst and said outwardly oifset portion said closure in spaced relation to said 'one edge, and

means urging said plunger against said outwardly olfset portion of said handle, said plunger having a bearing head of segmental spherical configuration to alford easy relative movement between said handle and said plunger and said wall providing a support surface for said plunger when said handle is pivoted against said plunger, and p said outwardly offset portion of said handle extending 7 away from said one edge to provide a bearing surface to receive inwardly directed force to pivot said handle.

13. A closure construction comprisinging a closure having a front and back wall in spaced relation and pivotally secured to a wall, a handle, means pivotally securing said handle to said closure including a pair of lugs and means for pivotally connecting said lugs to said closure mounted within said closure, stop means for said lugs mounted within said closure to limit outward angular movement of said handle relative to said closure, and fulcrum means slidably mounted in said closure and urging said handle to a position wherein said lugs engage said stop means, said wall providing a reaction surface for said fulcmm means when said handle is pivoted against said fulcrum means whereby to efiect 15 movement of said closure outwardly from said wall, said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,802,552 Corcoran Apr. 28, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 72,979 Norway Ian. 12, 1948 255,355 Switzerland Ian. 17, 1949 

